July 2008
NEwS
Hillsdale Notebook
(Continued from page 1)
effect a gray rectangle five football
fields long.
Initial funding for the project
would come from a combination
of BEF funds received from grants
and an investor able to utilize the
Oregon Business Energy Tax Cred-
its (BETC), federal Investment Tax
Credits.
Schools included in the Hillsdale
proposal are Riecke Elementary,
Robert Gray Middle, and Wilson
High schools. Under the proposal,
BEF would own the site along with
the investor during the first six
year period, with BEF responsible
for monitoring, billing and main-
tenance.
As an adjunct to the energy gener-
ated, an integrated solar educational
program would be offered at the
affected schools. Walden outlined
a plan to name a Solar Champion
at each school to assure the BEF
educational specialist could coordi-
nate the proposed components and
program with all possible teachers
in the schools.
After the initial period required
by the IRS for ownership, the school
would have the option of purchas-
ing the system for a greatly reduced
cost or allow BEF to continue the
operations and maintenance of the
system.
The cost to the school for the pow-
er produced after the initial period
would probably be much lower than
that charged by the utility at that
time. If the school were to purchase
and operate the system the power
would be free after maintenance
and reserve costs were set aside.
Walden wrapped up with a plea
that the project be implemented
before the end of the year. While
the general idea of the plan seemed
appealing to attendees, some resi-
dents expressed concerns about
the aesthetics of the installation.
There were also questions about
the amount of energy that would
be generated.
CSV, the City of Portland and the
neighborhood association are work-
ing together on a system design
that would be financial feasible and
visually appealing. A report and
example will be presented at the
next neighborhood meeting. Com-
mercial Solar Ventures is currently
looking for investors to make this
project a reality.
“The Hillsdale community and
Portland’s southwest neighbor-
hoods have an opportunity to
make this effort a truly community
project,” said Walden. “It is a very
renewable, sustainable project
that supports the education of all
neighborhood students, involves
the neighborhood at large and is fi-
nancially supported by a local busi-
nesses interested in supporting their
triple bottom line company goals.”
For more information: www.c-s-v.
com 503-241-5918
Next on the rundown, environ-
mental specialist Mary Bushman,
spoke on behalf of the Bureau of
Environmental Services’ Willamette
Watershed Team (WWT). The WWT
is seeking input on issues relating
to three southwest Portland sub-
watersheds: California, Carolina/
Terwilliger, and Marquam Woods.
“We are looking for opportunities
to address sub-watershed concerns
that we may not know about,” Bush-
man said.
Among the fixes proposed to
increase the health of these sub-
watersheds are removal of invasive
species, erosion control, identify-
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ing opportunities to protect and
restore important natural areas (e.g.,
George Himes Park), and probably
the biggest issue for these sub-wa-
tersheds, and for most urban areas
in general, reducing the impact of
stormwater runoff.
Bushman referenced an unfor-
tunate recent incident in which
fire retardant was inadvertently
washed into Terwilliger Creek, and
talked in more general terms about
the “amount of pollutants being
washed into our watersheds.”
A questionnaire was provided
to association members that asked
citizens to weigh in on “any storm
water or natural resource related
problems,” or “to identify natural
areas in the three SW sub-water-
sheds that you feel merit special
protection.”
“Meeting with key stakeholders
is a very important part of the plan-
ning process,” said Environmental
Services spokesperson Marc Peters
in a follow-up email, “and allows
us to learn about the issues and
concerns of the people who live and
recreate in these areas. As a result,
the information can be used to help
identify potential priority areas and
project sites.
In a final bit of business, Portland
Office of Transportation (PDOT)
project manager Art Pearce pre-
sented a report on the South Port-
land Circulation Study and North
Macadam Transportation Planning
efforts.
“It’s going to be a long road to
achieve safe and efficient transpor-
tation improvements in this area,”
The Southwest Portland Post • 3
said Pearce of the labyrinthine hard-
scape around Naito Parkway and
environs.
Pearce explained that the North
Macadam area and the adjacent
freeway systems comprise one of
the busiest transportation hubs in
the region. “What we have here
is a confluence of every regional
route, so there will continue to be a
lot of demand for vehicle travel
through this area.”
Pearce outlined how PDOT plans
to prioritize projects with regard to
short term, long term, and public
safety considerations. This list of
motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle,
and transit projects will serve as the
City’s plan to support the continued
growth in the North Macadam area
over the next 20 years.
One participant asked if the City’s
plan included the idea of people be-
ing able to live, work, and receive
services in the area thereby requir-
ing less driving on a daily basis.
“The zoning is in place for chang-
es, and the Portland Development
Commission is definitely a player
here,” said Pearce, who explained
that one of the goals of the overall
project is to “make transportation in
the area more available to people,
not just machines.”
“We’re actively seeking out a
broader universe of ideas,” said
Pearce of PDOT’s outreach, ex-
plaining that over the course of the
summer his offices would be further
evaluating prospects for a “long
term strategy to create a multi-
modal transportation community
in North Macadam.”